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3.14 The Deputy of St. Martin of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the return to duties of suspended police officers cleared of all disciplinary charges at a hearing on 23rd February 2010.
Would the Minister advise whether the 2 police officers, who were suspended for around 18 months and then subsequently cleared of all disciplinary charges at a hearing on 23rd February 2010, are now back to full operational duties and if not, why not?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand (The Minister for Home Affairs):
The 2 police officers referred to had their suspensions lifted on 23rd February 2010 and were available for operational duty the following day. They could return the following day. They are currently not on duty and for reasons of confidentiality, namely their privacy, it would not be appropriate to explain publicly why they are not at work.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
I think it is well known why the 2 officers are not back at work but they are also getting paid. Does the Minister not consider it appropriate to inform Members as to the cost and who is incurring the cost while these officers are not at work?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
There are a variety of reasons from time to time why officers may not be at work. There may be perfectly good reasons for that, indeed, there probably are in relation to these officers. It is not unusual for that to occur in such circumstances. Clearly, their salaries continue to be paid. There is a procedure which I have recently reviewed in relation to payment of salary in certain circumstances but that is perfectly normal. It could apply to any department in the same way.
- Senator A. Breckon:
I wonder if the Minister could confirm, I think I heard him just say that the officers' suspension had been lifted around 28th February, have they returned to work at all since that time?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
23rd February, I said. My understanding is that they have taken some holiday leave in an appearance sense and I do not think they have returned to work.
- The Deputy of St. Martin :
The answer I did not get: they are being paid for by the taxpayer while they are off work. Are these 2 officers ever likely to come back to work? Is the Minister in a position to say that? If they are, how soon will they be able to return to full operational duties?
Senator B.I. Le Marquand:
I am not going to go into details of that sort in relation to individual officers. It is simply extremely unfair to the individual officers. They are entitled to a degree of privacy, as is any other States employee. [Approbation]